She began singing in her church choir at the age of five. Encouraged by her parents, she learned piano and drums as a child, and took up guitar as a teenager.

“Music has always been my purest joy, even as a child,” she says. “One of my favourite memories is my grade-school music teacher pounding on the piano and leading the class in rousing renditions of folk songs from all around the world.”

While studying art at Illinois State University, she performed in local coffee houses and clubs, and after graduating in 1980, she hit the road, playing wherever she could find a gig.

She moved to Nashville in 1985 and worked as a demo singer while playing in clubs by night, taking a job singing at the Dollywood theme park and selling tapes of her own music, one of which got her signed to Liberty/Capitol when a label executive heard it.

But it was on stage with Garrison Keillor in 2008 that she had a revelation: “Everyone loves to sing along on Red River Valley – except the children who somehow don't know the song,” she says. “Folk songs are the scrapbook of the American experience, but as music education fades from our public schools these beautiful melodies are in danger of being overlooked.”

She resolved to record these timeless songs in an updated but reverent way – so that everyone can sing along on Red River Valley.

She published a book – American Folk Songbook – and a companion CD. Her intent from the beginning was to make the book attractive to music lovers and musicians at every level.

“That way, younger generations could share these slowly fading gems with their families and tell their stories of how they learned a few chords on the guitar or a couple of favourites to play at family gatherings,” she explains.

She’s bringing some of the songs to Liverpool this month when she plays Eric’s.

“When I was over in the UK last June with Wine, Women & Song, I talked to lots of folks about when I'd be back,” she says. “Well the dates are booked and I will be doing about 10 shows with my trio in late May. Notice a pattern here? I love it over there in spring! We're really looking forward to coming to Liverpool.”